If you are
suffering from an illness or an injury that keeps you from doing your job, you
may be eligible for a disability settlement from your insurance company. Many
workers are covered by a group policy that will provide compensation if they
are incapacitated. These benefits may include a percentage of lost wages while
you are unable to work, plus financial help for care giving or housekeeping
while you are recovering.

An office manager
needs time to recuperate after a serious heart attack.

A welder breaks an
arm in a ski accident and is unable to use it for eight weeks.

A computer
programmer suffers a stroke and needs several months of physiotherapy.

An auto assembly
line worker is undergoing chemotherapy and is temporarily too tired to work her
regular shift.

A cook riding his
bike to work is struck by a car and sustains a head injury, requiring long-term
therapy.

A magazine editor
develops an eye condition that causes blurred vision and is unable to perform
her regular tasks.

A teacher
experiences personal trauma and, as a result, suffers a major depression.

All of these
scenarios leave workers without the ability to do their usual jobs. Some of the
more serious situations may leave their victims unable to work in any capacity.
If these workers have adequate insurance coverage, they will be able to claim
disability benefits.

Filing a Claim

If you are suddenly
unable to work, your family may be in financial trouble. Many people count on a
regular paycheque arriving each week in order to pay the
bills. Unfortunately, when you're incapacitated, the bills keep coming even
when the paycheque does not. You may be supporting children or elderly
relatives, or you may have major financial obligations such as a mortgage, car
loan, or other substantial monthly payment. It can be imperative to file an
insurance claim as soon as possible.

Yet filing a claim
can be fraught with frustration. Insurance companies demand extensive medical
supporting material for every claim, and expect any paperwork submitted to be
meticulous. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize the benefits paid out,
in order to preserve the health of the company's bottom line. Various deadlines
must be met in order for a claim to have any success at all. It's easy to see
that dealing with insurance companies can add a great deal of stress to an
already taxing situation. That's why hiring a law firm that specializes in disability and personal injury law can be one of the best decisions you'll ever make.

Finding an Attorney

There are numerous
personal injury/disability law firms in the Greater Toronto Area. Better firms
offer a free consultation, so that you can meet a representative and ask
questions. Don't worry about paying exorbitant lawyer's fees, either – most reputable
disability attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that you will pay
them only a percentage of your settlement from the insurance company, when that
arrives.